 Feb 12 2025 - Feb 15 2025

 Ljubljana

The MENT festival will feature an eclectic line-up of 83 artists from 27 countries all over Europe and beyond, giving them a platform to present themselves to audiences and music professionals.

Featuring concerts at several venues in Ljubljana as well as a conference at Kino Šiška, the festival focuses on promoting emerging talent, fostering creativity and facilitating networking opportunities within the music industry.

Gilles Peterson, a broadcaster, DJ and record collector who hosts a weekly Saturday afternoon show on BBC Radio 6 Music, will give a gig at Kino Šiška on 12 February blending jazz, funk, electronic and rare grooves. He will also share his insights at the conference.

The festival programme will open with a concert at Kino Šiška by Yalla Miku, a Geneva-based group whose debut album is described as a genre twister, with musicians from North and East Africa coming together with various musical alchemists from Geneva's burgeoning and experimentally inclined global music scene.

The opening night on Wednesday will also see a concert by the increasingly popular Greek pop artist Σtella.

Thursday will see a varied programme of events at Kino Šiška, the Old Power Station and Metelkova venue, including concerts by the world-renowned Irish band Lankum and the local band Širom.

Friday will bring a variety of events all over the city, from Ljubljana Castle to the Old Power Station, Orto Bar and Metelkova, including an all-night programme of electronic music.

The festival will wrap up on Saturday with the CE/MENT dance at Kino Šiška with British DJs Special Request and Djrum, and regional and local support.

The conference programme will feature 100 speakers, 27 interviews and round table debates, as well as mentorships and networking.